Chami urges TBS Board of Directors to perform

The Minister for Industry and Trade, Hon. Dr. Cyril Chami has urged the Tanzania Bureau of Standards Board of Directors to execute its responsibilities efficiently by directing the Bureau towards the realization of its statutory obligations.

Dr. Cyril Chami made the remarks recently when inaugurating the new Board of Directors, at Tanzania Bureau of Standards headquarters in Dar es Salaam.

He said the Bureau’s existence is becoming even more vital as Tanzania is now involved in the world market economy and a member of World Trade Organization and TBS being the National Enquiry Point for matters of technical barriers to trade and sanitary and phytosanitary requirements.

“With our involvement in the world market, we need to be keen by ensuring that only quality products penetrate into the local market, hence promote our local industries,” he said.

Dr. Chami further said in order to make the organization autonomous there was a need to make it more responsive to the market. “We want to see TBS expand its services and reach all Tanzanians directly needing its services, particularly entrepreneurs,” said the Minister.

The Minister said the organization under the Board of Directors should also ensure that it submits its annual accounts to the auditors without any delay. He also urged the Bureau to ensure that the Packaging Technology Centre is performing its activities and serving its intended clients.

On his part, the Chairman of the TBS Board of Directors, Mr. Oliver Mhaiki said the board would fulfill all directives and recommendations made by the Minister as soon as they can. However, Mr Mhaiki requested the government to support the Bureau in order to improve its performance in its daily operations.

Earlier in his welcoming remarks, the TBS Director General, Mr. Charles Ekelege said the organization has taken various measures to ensure that it provides good services to its customers, adding that so far four laboratories out of nine are accredited.
The President of the United Republic of Tanzania recently appointed Mr. Mhaiki the new Chairman of the TBS Board of Directors. Subsequently, the Minister for Industry and Trade appointed the members of the board. They are Mr. Odilo Majengo (Ministry of Industry and Trade), Mr. Donald Chidowu (Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs), Mr. Rashid A. Salim (Ministry of Industry, Trade and Marketing – Zanzibar) and Dr. Bertha Maegga (Ministry of Health).